Jered Weaver could return to Angels as soon as Sunday

The light at the end of the tunnel is closer than ever. Jered Weaver has nearly finished his comeback.

Since heading to the 15-day disabled list with left hip inflammation on June 20, Weaver has steadily worked his way back, throwing bullpens and simulated games almost three weeks ago at the All-Star break.

But Mike Scioscia, pitching coach Mike Butcher and Weaver held off on a return.

No longer. Weaver completed his second rehab start with the Inland Empire 66ers, the Angels’ advanced-A affiliate, on Tuesday, and Scioscia said before Wednesday’s game that he could return to the major league rotation as soon as Sunday, possibly on Monday.

“He made a lot of progress,” Scioscia said. “We’re excited about the reports we got on how he pitched last night, and I think that’s a lot closer to where Weav needs to be and to anything we’ve seen this year for a while, so that’s encouraging. He’ll throw his bullpen Friday, see how he comes out of it, and we’ll make a determination of where he is.”

In his two starts with the 66ers, Weaver posted a 1.93 ERA, surrendering four runs, two earned, in 9 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, walked four and allowed six hits.

His Tuesday start was perfect through three innings as he breezed through the first turn of the lineup, but he hit a bit of a rough patch in the fifth and sixth innings, giving up two deep solo home runs. Still, he left in line for the win after 84 pitches and five strikeouts.

“This one was better than his first, and more in line with the stuff we saw when he pitched really well for four games [in May],” Scioscia said. “This stuff was very similar to the stuff he had when he got those good results. ... It’s light years from the game in Oakland [June 20] before he got shut down.”

Weaver did not speak to the media before Wednesday’s game, but he did tell the Orange County Register on Tuesday night that his hip felt fine and he was ready to return to the Angels.

A few weeks ago, the Angels had no reason to hurry Weaver’s rehab, as minor-league call-up Andrew Heaney dominated in his first five starts and earned a more lasting spot with the club, creating a logjam of starters.

Now, however, the likely season-ending injury to C.J. Wilson means there’s a gap in the rotation, and Weaver is coming back at just the right time.